FRESH PERSPECTIVE: Journalist Kimberley Sherwood will run for a seat on Tamworth Regional Council. Photo: Geoff O'Neill
A FRESH new face could be seen on Tamworth Regional Council later this year, with a young journalist announcing yesterday she intends to run at September’s
elections.
Kimberley Sherwood may only be 22 but has a big vision as to how she could help the community, while bringing diversity and a young person’s perspective to the
council.
The 2TM/FM92.9 reporter said the idea to stand for election was sparked by her exposure to the different issues in the community through her job – her primary interest being the hot-button issue of the city’s escalating crime.
While she acknowledged crime could never be completely eradicated, Miss Sherwood said many offenders were young and she felt crime could be minimised by engaging these kids in the community in a positive way.
She said among her ideas, she would like to introduce a mentorship program in the Tamworth region to give kids who might be straying a nudge back onto the right path through relationships with positive older people.
“They need role models in their life, because at the moment they’re looking up to people that are already involved in anti-social behaviour,” she said.
She said as a councillor she would work to ensure people were aware of the other great initiatives that had already been
introduced.
While no incumbent councillors have announced they will not run for election again, Miss Sherwood remains optimistic.
She said the councillors and local members, Tony Windsor and Kevin Anderson, had been supportive of her ambitions, and were pleased to see a young person interested in the community and taking part in the decision-making process.
Miss Sherwood grew up on a dairy farm in Manilla and attended high school in Tamworth, before moving to Newcastle, Sydney and the USA.
But being a self-described country girl, she wanted to return to her roots.
Standing for council election isn’t her first foray into community service – she volunteers with many organisations, including Ronald McDonald House, St John’s, the RSPCA, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Tamworth hospital, News on Wheels and Plan-It Youth
Mentoring.
“I like getting out there, being busy, and helping however I can,” she said.
